The 36-year-old man from Draperstown was jailed for two years at the Crown Court in Derry after drugs with a potential street value of up to £81,000 were found in his house and adjoining shed last year.

Karl Moran from High Street in the town pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply the drug. He also admitted to illegally extracting £20,000 worth of electricity to run the cannabis factory.

Moran’s home was searched in a planned police operation on November 4 of last year. Inside his shed and in the attic of his home the police found bags containing 2.45 kilograms of cannabis and 73 cannabis plants at various stages of maturity.

In the attic of his home the police also found high voltage lamps, extraction ducts, insulation materials, transformers and reflectors.

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When he was arrested and interviewed by the police following the drugs haul, he told the officers: “I am a quare stupid boy. I have never done anything like this before”.

The court was told that Moran was paid just over £7,000 to allow his property to be used as a cannabis factory.

He started his offending when, as a result of his late father’s will, he ended up owing his brother £40,000. Judge Philip Babington said it was quite clear that Moran was more than just a caretaker or gardener for the drugs.

“He was paid quite handsomely for what he knew was going on. He knew the drugs would be supplied to people and there is no doubt in my mind that this criminal enterprise could not have succeeded without the active participation of this defendant.

“He was quite prepared to spread the misery of illegal drugs throughout the area and he played his role in this for profit," he said.

As well as jailing Moran for two years, Judge Babington also ordered the destruction of the drugs and drugs related items found in Moran’s property.